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Savannah man acquitted in 2010 slaying

A Savannah man Friday evening was acquitted on murder and related charges in the 2010 slaying of Ronald “Peanut” White, which the defense said was justified.

A Chatham County Superior Court jury deliberated about four hours before returning to court about 6:25 p.m. with acquittals for Kenneth “Leprechaun” Haggins, 30, in the Aug. 9, 2010, slaying.

The victim, 27, was stabbed five or six times and killed during an early morning quarrel at 44th Lane and Burroughs Street involving estranged best friends. He died at Memorial University Medical Center.

Haggins was on trial on charges of malice and felony murder, aggravated assault with a knife and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony. He pleaded not guilty.

Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Burns told the jury before Judge Timothy R. Walmsley her client was defending himself from an attack by the larger man.

“Kenneth Haggins is innocent because he was justified in defending himself,” she argued. “He had a right to defend himself.”

She contended White, the larger of the two, was pummeling the defendant on the ground immediately before the stabbing. White was taller and about double the weight of the defendant, earlier testimony showed.

Immediately after the stabbing, the defendant called his mother, telling her he “did it in self defense,” Burns noted. He then returned to the scene and told a group of police officers the same thing.

“Anger doesn’t defeat a self-defense claim,” she argued.

Assistant District Attorney Arvo Henifin contended Haggins acted out of revenge, spite and anger for a perceived disrespect from White, conduct the prosecutor said Haggins provoked.

Just before the stabbing, the defendant broke out two windows of the victim’s car with his bare hands, Henifin argued.

“He wasn’t scared because he kept over and over and over again provoking Ronald White,” Henifin argued. “This guy was a very close friend. … Ronald White was trying to make amends.”

Evidence showed the confrontation was one of several involving the pair that night that resulted in what Henifin said was a fist fight turned deadly.

Evidence showed the victim was unarmed and apparently did not know Haggins had a weapon. Haggins threw the weapon down a storm drain as he ran away, the prosecutor said.